Ethereum core developers have announced two major network upgrades scheduled for 2026, codenamed "Glamsterdam" and "Hegota." The project is moving towards a more predictable release schedule with a target frequency of twice a year, aiming to improve development manageability and accelerate the rollout of enhancements. In this article, we summarize the key timelines and technical highlights, and briefly explain why miners with smaller equipment fleets should keep an eye on these developments.
Ethereum's Plans for 2026
The 2026 strategy includes two hard forks spaced across the year: the first in the first half, the second in the latter half. Developers describe this release rhythm as a way to make updates more predictable and frequent. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the network's competitive position through faster implementation of improvements and fixes.
Details of the Glamsterdam Upgrade
Glamsterdam is scheduled for the first half of 2026 and will follow the recent "Fusaka" hard fork. The focus is on scalability and protocol efficiency improvements through gas optimization and the introduction of Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation (ePBS). These changes are designed to reduce censorship risks and further decentralize the block-building process; more details on the release components can be found in the key changes in Glamsterdam.
Plans for the Second Half: Hegota
Hegota is planned for the second half of 2026 and combines the execution layer update "Bogota" with the consensus layer update "Heze." Discussions on the scope of this comprehensive upgrade will begin on January 8, 2026, during the core developers' general call, with the final workload expected by the end of February. For a more detailed breakdown of specific technical steps, see the Hegota upgrade overview and materials on implementing Verkle Trees, which relate to network state management tasks.
Enhancing Cryptographic Security
Alongside architectural upgrades, the Ethereum Foundation is focusing efforts on increasing the network's cryptographic robustness. The goal is to achieve "128-bit provable security" by the end of 2026, positioned as a requirement for institutional-level applications. As part of this plan, the integration of "soundcalc" is expected in February 2026, with full synchronization alongside Glamsterdam scheduled for May.
Why This Matters
For owners of mining equipment fleets (ranging from 1 to 1000 devices), these upgrades primarily signal continued work on ecosystem stability and security. No direct changes to mining rules are declared here; however, protocol and cryptographic improvements may affect node reliability, service ecosystems, and the overall network infrastructure.
Moreover, a predictable release schedule reduces uncertainty around major changes, simplifying technical maintenance planning and response to updates. Knowing key dates (such as the Hegota discussion on January 8, soundcalc integration in February, and Glamsterdam synchronization in May) helps organize work without unexpected downtime.
What to Do?
- Follow official announcements and developer notes to receive precise software update instructions closer to releases.
- Plan maintenance windows around expected milestones: February (soundcalc integration) and May (full synchronization with Glamsterdam), and be prepared for changes following January discussions.
- Maintain backups of configurations and keys, and test updates on non-production instances before mass deployment across all devices.
- If you operate nodes or services, consider the possibility of needing to update client software and monitor compatibility with ePBS and other protocol changes.
